Brittney Griner ejected from Sparks after altercation with Rickea Jackson

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was ejected during Tuesday’s game in Los Angeles for a near-fight with Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson.

Griner and Jackson clashed while Mercury player Celeste Taylor was shooting free throws with 18.1 seconds left in the second quarter and began shoving each other and exchanging words.

Griner was quickly restrained by one of the Mercury’s security guards while Jackson was held by her teammates. The two received double technical fouls and were ejected. The Mercury trailed the Sparks 44-36 at halftime.

The Mercury played their third consecutive game without their leading scorer Kahleah Copper, who is out with a back injury.